Recognized for its innovative programs that educate the public about the importance of oral health in a healthy life, the museum is designated by Congress as the official museum of the dental profession in the U.S. The museum’s extensive 40,000 object collection of dental instruments, furniture, and artwork is one of the most important and oldest in the world, tracing its roots to the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, the world’s first college of dentistry, founded in Baltimore, MD in 1840. Highlights include George Washington’s ivory denture, Queen Victoria’s personal dental instruments, and an extraordinary collection of toothbrushes ranging from the 1800s to the present. The museum is also a center for learning for children, featuring school tours throughout the year, and entertaining and interactive exhibits that teach the importance of oral health to a healthy life.